Tulum On A Budget: Experience Tulum Affordably (2023)

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Want to visit Tulum on a budget that won’t break the bank?

A Little About Tulum

If you’re wondering if you should visit Tulum and have come here to help you decide, stop reading, go book your flight, then come back and finish reading. Definitely go! Don’t think twice about it.

If you’re new to hearing about Tulum, it’s probably Mexico’s hottest destination right now. I don’t mean temperature hot either (though it is quite warm year round). I mean hot parties and hot people!

Several years ago, Tulum was the up-and-coming destination where you could get a great deal because the word wasn’t out yet. That’s not the case anymore. Thanks to all the celebrities that vacation there and the perfect Instagram scenery on every corner, the world knows about Tulum now.

A vacation to Tulum tourist-style could cost a LOT of money. Lucky for you, I’ll teach you how to visit Tulum on a budget like a traveler.

Tulum On A Budget

If you’re not careful, you’ll end up shelling out big-time bucks on your Tulum vacation. Here, I’ll list some activities, lodging, and food options that won’t break the bank.

Activities

There is no shortage of things to do in Tulum. I’ll give you the ones that’ll give you the most bang for your buck so can visit Tulum on a budget that you won’t regret when you land stateside again.

Tulum Ruins

If you’re familiar with my travel style, you know the first thing I want to do when I get somewhere is visiting the ruin sites. Mayans, Aztecs, Incas, these sites fascinate me and I want to see them all.

Lucky us, the ruins in Tulum fit our budget, and also provide some of the most unique views you can find at any Mayan ruin site, due to the picturesque beach backdrop.

You can enter the Tulum Ruins for 65 pesos (about $3.25). In the interest of staying budget-friendly, I recommend getting to the ruins on your own rather than on a tour or in a taxi.

I walked from my hostel. It was a long, hot walk, and a bit more than I bargained for, but I’m out of shape and pasty white. If you like to walk and don’t mind the sun, you’ll be alright. You can also rent bicycles from almost anywhere if it’s too far.

There will likely be a ton of people there. Tulum is a tourist destination now, so this is nearly unavoidable. Accept it, and enjoy it. Making your way through at your own pace will give you the best chance to get people free angles and pictures that will make all your followers swoon and pound that “like” button.

Pro Tip: Chichen Itza is definitely worth visiting, but Tulum ruins will be a far easier experience. If you still want to go to Chichen Itza from Tulum, check this out.

Ven a la Luz

In my opinion, the party is over for Ven a la Luz. It’s a beautiful and impressive structure, don’t get me wrong. But its location now leaves much to be desired.

It used to sit outside the Ahau Tulum resort, serving as an entrance/exit for the resort on its beachfront. It now sits just beside the resort, in what feels like a cage, with a swerving line of tourists who have paid $3 each (it was $2 when I went, but I understand it’s more now) to take their picture with it.

That being said, it is wonderful to see. It’s an icon of the city of Tulum. The craftsmanship by its artist and creator Daniel Popper will give you the feels. And, at $3, it fits into our plan to visit Tulum on a budget.

Beach Walk

Walking and relaxing on the beaches of Tulum is a great way to spend a day. Tulum has some of the prettiest beaches and clearest water (depending of course on storm activity) that Mexico has to offer.

If you’re not careful though, you’ll spend a few hundred dollars on this day. I’ll tell you how to do it for a fraction of that.

Before you head out for the day, stop by a nearby tienda (supermarket) and pick up some supplies for the day. You’ll want to make sure you have sunscreen. That Mexico sun is strong!

Also, grab some snacks and enough water to fill your bottle and then fill it again. When it comes to snacks, try my rule: don’t buy anything you can buy at home. Try something new!

Some of my favorites are Crujitos (roughly meaning “crunchies”) and Queso flavored Ruffles. I know they have those in the States, but they’re different, trust me. Don’t get chocolate, it’ll melt. Stick to chips and cookies, or protein bars if your diet isn’t on vacation like you are.

Next, make your way to the south end of Tulum Beach.

Bonus: Cenote Encantado Nuan

You can even start your day at Cenote Encantado Nuan, if you’d like. It looks more like a lake than a cenote, but the scenery is beautiful, the water is clear and very swimmable, and with an entrance fee of 50 pesos (about $2.50), it fits perfectly in our itinerary.

Back to the Beach Walk…

From there, you can walk down the street and make your way to the beach side of the hotels. You can pass through just about any of the restaurants or hotels to get to the beachfront.

There are tons of restaurants, bars, and beach clubs that line the oceanfront, but they’re fenced in. The area outside of that is public, so feel free to stop and hang out if you want a break.

Most of the beach clubs have a minimum food/drink spending amount in order to get a beach chair or bed, so in the interest of our Tulum budget, I’d encourage you NOT to give in to that, as it’s quite high.

Bonus – Follow That Dream & Matcha Mama

As you make your way, make sure to cross the street when you get to Alma Tulum so you can take a picture of the Follow That Dream sign, a great Instagram spot that costs $0.

Down the street a bit further and on the same side is Matcha Mama, another photogenic spot that serves as a great spot to refresh with a smoothie or iced coffee.

Head back across the street and out to the beach. Take your time and enjoy the views and soak up the sounds of the waves. The beach is medicine for the soul.

When you make it to Ahau Tulum, pass through it and out to the street where you’ll likely see a bunch of people lined up to get into the garden where Ven a la Luz sits. Might as well take this in while you’re here.

I recommend keeping going down the beach a bit further. Once you arrive at Taboo, you can pretty much head back out to the street side and catch your cab back to your hostel.

Taxis can be a bit pricey, but you’ll have the peace of mind that you enjoyed Tulum Beach and spent MUCH less than most of the people you saw and passed.

Lodging

This part is easy. I recommend staying in a hostel. I know, so unlike me! If you need help choosing one, check this out.

Look, hostels are my jam and I recommend staying in them whenever it’s an option. Luckily, in Tulum, there are great options. The hostel scene there is very party-oriented, so be ready for some loud music and lots of drinking and dancing.

But, that’s part of the draw of Tulum, it’s wild!

I do have a recommendation though. Mayan Monkey Hostel gets my vote. Its location is perfect for access to town, and it’s on the edge of the beach road, so it’s easy to rent a bike and get to the beach.

Mayan Monkey isn’t your average hostel. It’s huge! It has several floors of rooms, a spacious atrium with a lounging area, and plenty of room to chill. The beds are comfy and all have privacy curtains.

There’s a rooftop bar that gets loud and wild when the sun goes down. Breakfast is served in the same area in the mornings. There’s a small pool up there too, but I never saw anyone in it.

If you’re new to hostels, Mayan Monkey is a perfect transition into the hostel lifestyle. Make sure to brush up on your hostel etiquette before you arrive.

Food

Hungry yet? I’m starved!

Eating is one of my favorite things to do in Mexico. Mexican food, especially on the Yucatan Peninsula, is my favorite food from anywhere I’ve been. Also, I love tacos! Tulum had some of the best tacos I’ve had.

I’ll give you a handful of options so you can have a memorable dining experience in Tulum on a budget. Here are my favorites:

• Tropi Tacos – A local recommended it and it did not disappoint! Great music and atmosphere.
• Taqueria Los Chachalacos – Right next door to Mayan Monkey for your convenience with tons of options to suit your taste.
• Calle Geminis Sur – Right off the main highway and Calle Geminis Sur, you’ll find a selection of food carts offering tacos and such. Try them all!

Thinking back, I think I had tacos for lunch and dinner every day in Tulum (not breakfast of course, because the hostel has breakfast!)

I was there Thanksgiving week and didn’t even know it was Thanksgiving until that evening. I was on my third cochinita pibil taco when someone else from the states told me, “Happy Thanksgiving.”

I’d totally forgotten. I was lost in Tulum and tacos!

Tulum on a Budget: Map

Tulum vs Cancun

As hot of a spot as Tulum is, many people are still choosing Cancun over it. Why? Well, in my opinion, it’s because they don’t know any better, so let’s take a look at some key factors that help people choose between Tulum and Cancun.

• Convenience – Cancun probably wins this one. Tulum is a 90-120 minute drive from the Cancun airport.
• Price – Most people go to Cancun for the all-inclusive, which can be a good deal, but still far more pricey than the Tulum budget options we’ve gone over here. Tulum for the win!
• Scenery – There are some pretty beaches in Cancun, but all the people and tourist traps ruin it for me. Tulum is newer, prettier, and still safely doable on a budget. Tulum FTW!
• People – Cancun is one of, if not the biggest tourist destinations in Mexico. While Tulum is climbing, and there are certainly tons of people, it’s different. Cancun is full of tourists. Tulum on the other hand is full of travelers, it’s different. I’ll take the travelers any day. Tulum FTW!

Bonus – The food is better in Tulum! The food and the whole experience in general are more authentic and less Americanized in Tulum.

Tulum Budget FAQs

How Much Does Tulum Cost?

Staying in Tulum, especially if you want to spend time at the beach and enjoy the clubs and bars there, will cost more than most of the places I would typically go. This is due to its growing tourism popularity.

The biggest costs though are hotels, beach clubs and restaurants, and transportation.

Mayan Monkey ran me around $13 a night, a fraction of what you’d pay for a normal hotel, especially by the beach. Taxi rides between the pueblo and the beach are pricey, running between $10 and $20, or more if it’s a peak hour.

If you stay at Mayan Monkey or find another suitable hostel, minimize your spending at the beachfront tourist traps, and minimize your taxi usage by renting a bicycle or walking, Tulum doesn’t have to be so expensive.

It will likely cost more than going to Bacalar or Merida, because some of that spending is hard to avoid. But, it’s absolutely worth the experience. It’s beautiful and fun, and the food is great!

There are more exclusive and luxurious options in Tulum in the form of private tours if that’s your jam.

How Much Cash Do I Need For Tulum?

The nice thing about traveling now is how much of it is taken care of online. Flights and lodging will both be taken care of online.

When you get there though, you’ll want some cash. Tours, taxis, and everything that happens on the fly will be better purchased with cash. Even more accurately, better purchased with pesos.

In our packing list for Tulum, we recommend not bringing a huge amount of cash.

Exchanging dollars for pesos comes with some unnecessary costs. So does using the ATM to get cash, if you don’t have the right kind of account.

Here’s your pro tip: open a checking account that does not charge foreign transaction fees and reimburses all ATM fees, like the one Charles Schwab offers. There are no monthly fees and no account minimums.

This account is a great way to keep track of travel expenses. I treat mine as my travel account, putting some in whenever I can and using only that money when I travel.

Without the looming threat of ATM fees, it’s easier to take out 1,000 or 2,000 pesos ($50-$100) every once in a while. This is much more ideal than taking a chunk of dollars and exchanging them along the way. The exchange fees add up, and you shouldn’t have tons of cash on you (or back in your room).

Is There Uber in Tulum?

As of the time of this writing, there is no Uber in Tulum. Taxis still own the streets. They can get pricey too.

Here’s some advice on taxis in Tulum:

• Don’t get into a cab without agreeing on a price.
• Don’t accept the first price you hear. They do not expect you to pay that price, but they’ll take it if you agree. Haggle!
• Talk to the driver. If they’re nice, you can exchange numbers and they may give you a better price on future rides. They also have hookups for tours and other activities.

One of my drivers ended up squeezing me on a tour with some other people the next day and I got some extra activities that I didn’t pay for due to how it all worked out. I just wanted to go to Coba but I ended up riding ATVs in the jungle and seeing some cenotes too.

I paid way less than the other people in my group, but don’t tell them that!

Conclusion: Tulum On A Budget

Phew! That was a fun one! With beaches, cenotes, ruins, and tacos, Tulum has it all. There is a TON of Tulum that we didn’t get into, including some hidden gems.

You can spend a ton of money or visit Tulum on a budget as we did in this post. Either way, you’ll have a lot of fun.

The key to remember, especially for budget-friendliness, is to stick to the pueblo, the town. Food and lodging are WAY more affordable in town than down by the beach. The beach is beautiful, but sleeping and eating in town will save you a ton of money, and give you a more authentic experience.

I’m big on authentic experiences. Usually, this keeps me away from tourist-heavy places. Tulum though, it’s just too pretty to pass up! The scenery took me there and the food sent me home with a smile on my face and lots to tell you guys.

Now, it’s your turn, so check it out!

Have fun out there!

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